Merry Christmas

[fjlip]

That is a tough time, sympathies furrow, but I understand, lost Mom Nov 21, she made 90. Now Dad at 99 is very needy, grieving, after 70 years married, needs our encouragement just to go on living alone at all. Many couples near us in the past survivor gave up and died not long after first. Was that you case?

[GDR]

Sorry to hear Furrow, makes for a sad time. Without knowing your family I am certain your parents are proud of the man/farmer you have become and the future you will provide for the farm.

My Dad has been gone for 9 yrs and a couple times a week I end up using a tool that was his or doing a task that I remember him teaching me, or going to some of his favourite spots and the memories make it feel like he is still with me.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and all the other Agrivillers as well!

[sumdumguy]

Furrow, sincere condolences. My mom also died in February, sure miss such a good buddy. Take care.

[LWeber]

Enjoy time with family it is more precious than most realize .

You never know how the future will turn out . Things can change quick .

Lost our mom in September during harvest , and my Dad this morning. Would have never dreamed that last Christmas at all .

Hopefully we can carry on another 110 years with the family farm .

Merry Christmas and let’s remember why most of us farm and respect all different paths we take for the same goal, just trying to raise and grow food and support our families ... big or small farms .

My condolences Furrow...

[GALAXIE500]

Very sorry to hear about your loss Furrow. Losing your parents is a gap that doesn't ever get filled. I lost my Dad in Feb. of this year. He was 94 and had a good run. I do take some comfort in the fact that he is with my Mom now , who left us in 2006. There has been a thousand questions I wanted to ask my Dad in the last ten months , and that familiar voice , either on the phone or at my kitchen table isn't there. Its been hard to accept , but I like to think that my parents are getting another shot at doing there lives over again , wherever they are across that great divide we will all cross at some point in the future.

Take care and think about the good things if you can.

[jazz]

Thats rough furrow, sorry to hear it. Between covid, the crop losses and losing both parents in a short span has to be a huge strain on a guy. Condolences.

[beaverdam]

There has been a thousand questions I wanted to ask my Dad in the last ten months , and that familiar voice , either on the phone or at my kitchen table isn't there. Its been hard to accept ,

Take care and think about the good things if you can.

Ya, that struck a cord. "a thousand questions" there'll be a thousand more questions to come. I thought I asked lots of questions while they were living,,, you know about the family, or how things were for them and their parents starting out in in the early days of the province. History of the area, what these bygone villages were like or even smaller communities, horses they worked, first power equipment etc, etc. But you just can't ask everything at one time, and lots of questions you think to ask later. My dad did write a small memoir for the family, it has about 20 stories in it, but doesn't come close to covering 90 years of life experiences. Every year lately, there are 2-3 old yardsites completely erased and farmed over, many would drive by now and never know anything ever existed there before. I find it sad, while at the same time I will admit to clearing plenty of land myself.(not yardsites though) The history lost would fill airport hangers.
Now I'm busy trying to pass along my parents stories and more of my own to my children and grand children.

Merry Christmas to all, those that need moisture best wishes for the New Year. Plenty of time for spring rains yet.

[furrowtickler]

Thanks for the kind words and stories shared , much appreciated to all .

[FarmJunkie]

Sorry for your loss Furrow. Just remember all the good times and stories he used to tell. Been through it and it takes time to adjust but farm folk are resilient!

[parsley]

Your love for your parents is touching, Furrow. Your respect. Your sense of what they have done. Stability. Patience. When your parents were young and likely invested every penny in the farm, it would be no surprise if they found the best way to live ‘doing without’, was the best way to live ‘doing with’. Careful and measured build family farms.

Generations building a family farm for 110 years is not only an agricultural heritage for your family, but for your town, your province, your country. It’s big stuff.

Your parents taught values. A work ethic. Generational building. Teamwork. Comfortable direct familial-relationships for juggling the generation of ‘teach and listen’, with the other generation of ‘listen and teach’ becomes seamless. Experience and skills are shared. Switching roles common. Looking back must bring you comfort.

May you find another touch of comfort in the spring when the crocus blooms, and you can smile in surprise. Life on the farm knows how to renew because memory assures they will.

My condolences and kindness to you and all your family. Pars.